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Exploring Meaning: Essentialism vs Existentialism
Oct 10, 2024
Crash Course Philosophy: Meaning of Life and Existentialism
Introduction
Sponsored by Squarespace.
Questions posed: What gives life meaning? Possible answers: God, love, money, work, etc.
Importance of finding meaning in life.
Essentialism
Ancient Greece Philosophers:
Plato and Aristotle.
Essence:
Core properties necessary for something to be what it is.
Example: A blade is essential for a knife.
Human Essence:
Believed to exist before birth; gives purpose.
Essentialism:
Belief in predetermined essence and purpose.
Standard view until late 19th century.
Challenge to Essentialism
Friedrich Nietzsche:
Embraced nihilism, meaninglessness of life.
Jean-Paul Sartre:
Proposed existentialism.
Existentialism:
Existence precedes essence.
Born without a predetermined purpose; we create our own essence.
Existentialism
Freedom and Choice:
No predetermined path; must create our own moral code.
We are "condemned to be free."
Authentic Living:
Accepting freedom and creating personal meaning.
Avoiding "bad faith," which is living by imposed values/meanings.
The Absurd
Absurdity:
Search for meaning in a meaningless world.
Lack of cosmic justice, order, or absolutes.
Existentialism through Historical Context
Post-World War II:
Rise of existentialism due to disillusionment.
Example:
Sartre's anecdote of a student choosing between going to war or staying with his mother.
Existentialism’s Perspective
Personal Meaning:
Life has meaning only if you choose to assign it.
Reject external standards dictated by society or authority.
Offers a sense of empowerment to define personal and collective values.
Conclusion
Essentialism vs. Existentialism discussed.
Understanding how existentialism offers a means to find meaning in a potentially meaningless world.
Additional Information
Episode sponsored by Squarespace, providing website creation services.
Produced with PBS Digital Studios and filmed in Crash Course studio.
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Full transcript